Switch mechanism for expandable track device with a switch actuator also serving as a stop means



Jan. 13, 1970 w. w. GREENWOOD. 3,489,869

SWITCH MECHANISM FOR EXPANDABLE TRACK DEVICE WITH A SWITCH ACTUATOR ALSO SERVING AS A- STOP MEANS Filed May 16, 1968 United States Patent O York Filed May 16, 1968, Ser. No. 729,633 Int. Cl. H01h 3/16 US. Cl. Mil-61.41 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A switch mechanism foran expandable track device for sensing tickets or the like and operating such track. The switch mechanism includes a pair of normally closed contacts and an actuator arm which is normally positioned to hold the switch contacts open. When a ticket or the like is placed within the tracks, the tracks expand moving the actuator arm sufficiently to allow the contacts to close. An adjustment is provided to allow the actuator arm to be adjusted relative to a movable track member to adjust the distance between the track for the necessary movement to actuate the switch device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a switching mechanism and more particularly to a switch mechanism for use with an expandable track device.

In todays society increased use is being made of credit cards and other types of cards or tokens used for charging goods, to determine and collect for use of equipment or space, or to provide access to or egress from various areas such as parking lots, fairs, other places of amusement and the like. With the increased use of such cards or tokens, need has been found for an automated method of handling such tickets or tokens. One specific area of need is a sensing device to sense when the ticket is placed in the automated equipment which handles the ticket for reading, writing and the like. This need is especially prevalent in todays modern rapid transit system Where use is being made of automatic fare collection systems. In these types of systems it becomes necessary to provide automated means for handling the tickets which are used to indicate use of the automatic transit system. In the fare collection means of these systems it is necessary that some means be provided for automatically switching on the equipment used for determining the use of the transit ticket. This invention specifically sets forth a switch mechanism which is especially useful in automated fare collection systems where expandable track means are used for handling such tickets or fare tokens of such automatic fare collection systems.

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide a switch mechanism to sense the presence of tickets in a transport device.

A further object of this invention is to provide a switch mechanism which is actuated by movement of a movable track when sensing a ticket within such track.

A further object of this invention is to provide a switch mechanism usable with an adjustable track device to ad just the distance between the tracks of such adjustable track means.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a switch mechanism connected to an adjustable track to actuate a switch device when a ticket is placed in or removed from such adjustable track.

SUMMARY In the preferred form of this invention a switch mechanism is provided having a pair of normally closed contacts held in open position by a switch actuator arm connected to a movable track of an expandable track device. Movement of the movable track to expand the distance between the tracks moves the actuator arm allowing the contacts to close. Reverse movement of such movable track again opens the contacts.

The invention which is sought to be protected will be particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims appended hereto. However, it is believed that this invention, and the manner in which its various objects and advantages are obtained, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, particularly when considered in the light of the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective view of a preferred form of ticket transport device showing the switch mechanism of this invention connected thereto; and

FIGURE 2 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 in the direction of the arrows showing the details of a preferred form of switch mechanism according to this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As before mentioned in todays society the increased use of credit cards and other types of cards or tokens require automated means for handling such tickets or tokens. In patent application Ser. No. 729,615, filed concurrently herewith, in the name of Ansell W. Palmer, for Ticket Handling and Storage Mechanism Especially Useful in Automatic Fare Collection Systems, which is assigned to the same assignee as this invention, there is disclosed a particular ticket handling and storage mechanism which utilizes an automated ticket transport device for transporting tickets along a path for automatically reading, writing and punching such tickets and where desired, returning such tickets to a customer. The switch ing mechanism of this invention finds particular use in the ticket transport mechanism of the Palmer application and FIGURE 1 is a showing of the ticket transport mecha nism specifically disclosed in the Palmer application. The particular ticket transport disclosed forms no part of this invention, but is used for purposes of clarity in describing the switching mechanism of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals are used to indicate like parts throughout the various views and considering specifically FIGURE 1, there is disclosed a ticket transport device 18 which includesa fixed track 44 having a slot 46 slightly wider than the thickness of a ticket member 22, such slot 46 running the length of the fixed track 44. A plurality of rollers 48 are mounted in the fixed track 44 each roller being provided with a groove 50 for rolling engagement with the edge of the ticket 22. The ticket transport 18 also includes a relatively movable track 52 which is pivoted to a frame 54 of a ticket handling mechanism by means of pivot pins 56. A loading spring 58 is provided connected between a part 60 of movable track 52 and a part 62 of frame 54. As will be understood, loading spring 58 biases movable track 52 toward fixed track 44. A switch actuating lever arm 64 is secured to a leg 66 of the movable track 52 and contacts a ticket sensing device or switch 16. As shown in FIGURE 1, switch 16 is preferably secured to the frame 54. As will be understood, actuator arm 64 provides a stop means to prevent movable track 52 from moving too close to fixed track 44 under the influence of loading spring 58. Further, the actuating arm 64 cooperates with the ticket sensing switch 16 to energize or actuate the ticket transport 18 when a ticket 22 is placed between the fixed track 44 and movable track 52. When the lever 64 is in the position shown in FIGURE 2, biased to such position by the loading spring 58, the distance between the fixed track 44 and movable track 52 is slightly less than the width w of ticket 22. When ticket 22 is inserted between the tracks 44 and 52, as shown in FIGURE 1, the movable track 52 will pivot about pins 56 away from fixed track 44. This movement is sufficient to actuate switch 16 and thereby activate the transport drive motor 68. The above description is substantially taken from the before-mentioned Palmer application, Ser. No. 729,615, and the same numbers are used herein for purposes of clarity of presentation of the invention set forth in this application. The following will now disclose in detail the ticket sensing switch 16 which forms the basis of this invention together with actuator arm 64.

Still referring to FIGURE 1, the ticket sensing switch 16 includes an insulated body member 70 having extending from the top thereof an insulated operator member 75. Insulated body member 70 is secured to frame 54 in any desired manner such as by screws or bolts (not shown). Within insulated body 70 are a pair of contact members 72, 74 (see FIGURE 2) which are normally spring pressed to a closed position. Operator 75 is used to open such contacts. In the position shown in FIG- URE 1, actuator arm 64 is moved up from operator 75 by the ticket 22 moving track 52, thus allowing the contacts to close. This action is clearly shown in FIGURE 2, to which reference will now be made.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, for a detailed showing of the switch device 16, as can be seen the fixed contact 72 is mounted in body 70 and has an electrical pin contact 78 extending through body 70, as shown. Movable contact 74 is mounted in body 70 on leaf spring 80 and is biased by spring 80 against contact 74, in normal position. As shown, leaf spring 80 has a portion 82 extending beyond contact 74 in position to be engaged by operator 75. When the movable track 52 pivots about pin 56 through a small arc arm 64 will move therewith substantially in a straight line upward, as shown by the arrow, thereby allowing contact 74 to be moved into contact with contact 72. As will be understood, contact 72 and 74 will be connected to the drive motor 68 to thereby actuate the motor and cause the ticket transport 18 to transport the ticket along tracks 52 and 44 as is more particularly described in the heretofore mentioned Palmer application Ser. No. 729,615. When no ticket is present between tracks 44 and 52, bias spring 58 will move track 52 toward track 44 until actuator arm 64 engages operator 75, moving operator 75 downward, as shown in FIG- URE 2, ,to disengage contacts 72 and 74, as shown. Opening of contacts 72 and 74 will deenergize drive motor 78, as will be understood.

In order to provide for ready adjustment of .the gap between tracks 52 and 44, the actuator arm 64 is adjustably mounted on the arm 66 of track 52. Bolt 88 which holds arm 64 to arm 66 is provided with a large opening in the arm 66 so that it may be readily moved either up or down or back and forth. Further a screw member 90 is provided, being threaded into a threaded hole in arm 66. The opening in arm 64 for screw member 90 is an eccentric hole and the head of screw 90, as shown is similarly eccentric such that the screw 90 may be turned to adjust the actuator arm 64 with reference to arm 66 when bolt 88 is loosened. When the adjustment is properly made by means of eccentric screw 90, then bolt 88 may be tightened to maintain actuator arm 64 in the adjusted position. As will be understood by means of this adjustment, the gap between the track 52 and 44 may be readily adjusted by means of the eccentric screw 90. This will, of course, determine the stop position of actuator arm 64, with reference to fixed contact 72 and movable contact 74. It will also determine the necessary movement of track 52 away from track 44 to provide actuation of the switch mechanism 16.

While there has been set forth hereinabove the specific preferred embodiment of this invention, particularly with reference to the ticket transport device of Palmer application Ser. No. 729,615, it will be readily understood that the switching mechanism of this invention may be used with any type of adjustable track device, as desired. It will, of course, occur to those skilled in the art to provide certain constructional changes, which changesv are considered within the spirit and scope of the invention which is set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and which it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A switching mechanism for sensing the presence of tickets in a track device comprising in combination:

(a) a movable track member including means for moving a ticket in said track member;

(b) a fixed track member cooperating with said movable track member to receive a ticket therebetween;

(c) biasing means biasing said movable track member toward said fixed track member;

(d) a switch mechanism connected to said fixed track member;

(1) said switch mechanism having a pair of normally closed contacts for actuating said moving means in said movable track member;

(e) a switch actuator arm connected at one end to said movable track member, the other end of said switch actuator arm contacting one of said switch contacts to move said switch contacts to open position and providing a stop means for preventing said movable track member from moving further toward said fixed track member under the influence of said biasing means;

(1) said switch actuator arm holding said movable track member spaced from said fixed track member a distance less than the width of a ticket;

whereby entry of a ticket between said fixed track member and said movable track member will move said movable track member allowing said switch contacts to close.

2. A switching mechanism as set forth in claim 1 in which an eccentric screw is provided connecting said actuator arm to said movable track whereby the positioning of said actuator arm may be adjusted with reference to said movable track.

3. A switch mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said contacts is spring mounted within the base member of said switch mechanism, said spring biasing said one contact into contact position with the other of said contacts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,541,376 2/1951 Nelson.

1,287,436 12/ 1918 Remington 340-260 2,560,395 7/1951 Steed ZOO-61.14 X 2,711,462 6/1955 Rouse ZOO-61.41 X 2,738,496 3/1956 Armstrong ZOO-61.41 X 2,825,778 3/ 1958 Kelleigh.

3,202,778 8/1965 Fliegner et a1 ZOO-61.41 3,213,224 10/1965 Mrenna et al 200-50 3,218,066 11/1965 Halberschmidt et al. 271-57 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner R. A. VANDERHYE, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

ZOO-61.59; 235-31; 271-57; 340-259 

